Last verified: February 2026. Certification costs, fees, and exam content change frequently. Always confirm current details on aws.amazon.com/certification or learn.microsoft.com before enrolling.
You’ve spent months deciding whether to go AWS or Azure. You’ve watched YouTube videos, read Reddit threads, and you’re still stuck with the same unanswered question: which certification actually pays more, and is the $180K figure real or just clickbait?
This article gives you a straight, data-backed answer. We compared real salary figures from Glassdoor India, AmbitionBox, and PayScale; verified current exam costs from official AWS and Microsoft portals; and separated the situations where AWS wins from the ones where Azure makes more sense.
The bottom line is: AWS certifications pay roughly 5–10% more on average than Azure equivalents — but both platforms can reach $180K+ (≈₹1.5 crore) annually at the senior architect/principal level in the US, and ₹30–50 LPA in India at top-tier firms. Best for India beginners: AWS Cloud Practitioner (CLF-C02). Exam cost: ₹9,800. Time to complete: 1–3 months of preparation.
What Do AWS and Azure Certifications Actually Teach You?
Both AWS and Azure certifications teach you to design, deploy, and manage cloud infrastructure — but they emphasize different tooling, ecosystems, and job roles. AWS certs (particularly SAA-C03) are architect-heavy, requiring scenario-based decision-making. Azure certs (like AZ-104) are operations-heavy, requiring deep hands-on knowledge of Microsoft-specific tooling like Active Directory, Azure AD, and PowerShell.
What you will learn depends entirely on the certification level:
- Foundational certs (Cloud Practitioner, AZ-900): Cloud concepts, pricing models, basic service identification. No hands-on configuration.
- Associate certs (SAA-C03, AZ-104): Actual configuration, networking, storage, identity management, and security.
- Professional/Expert certs (SAP-C02, AZ-305): Architecture design, hybrid cloud, enterprise governance.
What you won’t learn from any of these: real-world multi-cloud deployments, FinOps at scale, or Kubernetes orchestration — those require hands-on project experience beyond the certification curriculum.
💡 Pro Tip: Most people treat the Cloud Practitioner or AZ-900 as a “resume cert.” It isn’t — it’s a foundation. Employers rarely hire solely on these. Aim for associate-level minimum if your goal is a career shift.
How Much Do AWS and Azure Certifications Cost in India in 2026?
AWS exam fees in India range from ₹9,800 for Cloud Practitioner to approximately ₹24,000+ for Professional-level exams. Azure exams cost significantly less: ₹3,696 for AZ-900 and around ₹4,800 for Associate/Expert exams — though some third-party sources report higher figures after taxes; verify directly before booking.
Hidden costs to factor in:
- Study materials: ₹2,000–₹15,000 (Udemy courses, practice exams, official guides)
- Retake fees: You pay the full exam fee again if you fail
- Azure renewal: Role-based Azure certs expire annually; renewal assessments on Microsoft Learn are free
- AWS renewal: AWS certifications are valid for 3 years; recertification requires passing the same or higher-level exam
Costs verified from official AWS and Microsoft certification portals, February 2026. Subject to change — always confirm before booking.
✅ Action Step: Step 1: Go to aws.amazon.com/certification or learn.microsoft.com/credentials and select your exam. Step 2: Change the country to India in the pricing dropdown to see exact INR fees. Takes: 5 minutes.
Which AWS and Azure Certifications Are Best in 2026? (Full Comparison)
For salary impact in India, the AWS Solutions Architect Associate (SAA-C03) and Microsoft Azure Solutions Architect Expert (AZ-305) are the two highest-leverage certifications — but they require 6–18 months of prep and prior cloud experience. Entry-level candidates should start with Cloud Practitioner or AZ-900.
⭐ Editor’s Pick for Career Changers: AWS Solutions Architect Associate (SAA-C03)
| Certification | Provider | Exam Cost (India) | Duration (prep) | Difficulty | Prerequisites | Avg. Salary Boost (India) | Best For | Official Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ⭐ AWS Solutions Architect – Associate (SAA-C03) | AWS | ~₹12,200 | 2–4 months | Intermediate | None (1 yr exp. recommended) | ₹12–22 LPA | Career switchers, developers | Link |
| AWS Cloud Practitioner (CLF-C02) | AWS | ~₹9,800 | 1–2 months | Beginner | None | ₹3.5–8 LPA | Absolute beginners, non-tech roles | Link |
| AWS DevOps Engineer – Professional (DOP-C02) | AWS | ~₹24,000 | 4–6 months | Advanced | Associate cert required | ₹15–30 LPA+ | DevOps engineers, SREs | Link |
| Azure Fundamentals (AZ-900) | Microsoft | ~₹3,696 | 3–6 weeks | Beginner | None | ₹3.5–6 LPA | Non-tech roles, IT support | Link |
| Azure Administrator Associate (AZ-104) | Microsoft | ~₹4,800–₹13,600* | 2–3 months | Intermediate | AZ-900 recommended | ₹7–16 LPA | Windows admins, sysadmins | Link |
| Azure Solutions Architect Expert (AZ-305) | Microsoft | ~₹4,800–₹13,600* | 4–6 months | Advanced | AZ-104 required | ₹18–30 LPA | Senior architects, enterprise IT | Link |
| AWS Certified AI Practitioner (AIF-C01) | AWS | ~₹9,800 | 1–2 months | Beginner | None | ₹4–10 LPA | AI/ML career starters | Link |
*AZ-104/AZ-305 pricing inconsistency noted across sources: Microsoft officially lists ₹4,800 in India; some booking portals show ₹13,600 after taxes. Verify at the official Microsoft exam scheduling page before booking.
Costs and durations verified from official provider pages, February 2026. Subject to change.
Decision framework:
- Choose AWS if: you want to work at a tech startup, SaaS company, or any cloud-native firm. AWS has the largest market share (~32% globally per Credo Systemz, 2025) and more open roles.
- Choose Azure if: you’re currently a Windows system admin, have experience with Active Directory, or want to work in large enterprise, banking, or government-adjacent IT in India.
- Choose both eventually: Multi-cloud skills are a mid-career goal. Start with one, get hired, and let your employer fund the second.
What Salary Can You Expect After an AWS or Azure Certification in India?
In India, AWS-certified professionals earn ₹5–8 LPA at entry level, ₹8–15 LPA at mid-level, and ₹20–35 LPA+ at senior architect/DevOps Engineer levels, according to AmbitionBox and Glassdoor India data from 2025. Azure-certified professionals earn comparable figures, with Azure Solutions Architects averaging ₹18 LPA (Glassdoor, November 2025).
Here’s a breakdown by role and experience:
AWS Salary Ranges in India (AmbitionBox, 2025):
- 0–1 year experience: ₹4–6 LPA
- 1–4 years: ₹5–8 LPA
- 5–9 years: ₹8–15 LPA
- 10+ years: ₹12–20 LPA
- AWS Solutions Architect (all levels): ₹7.5 LPA median, up to ₹50 LPA at 90th percentile (Glassdoor India, November 2025)
- AWS DevOps Engineer average: ₹7.5–10 LPA (AmbitionBox, July 2025)
Azure Salary Ranges in India (AmbitionBox / Glassdoor, 2025):
- Azure Administrator: ₹7.1–7.3 LPA average across major metros (AmbitionBox, 2025)
- Azure Solutions Architect: ₹18 LPA average, up to ₹30 LPA+ (Glassdoor India, November 2025)
City-level variation: Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Pune consistently pay 15–25% more than national averages for cloud roles. Delhi-NCR is competitive for Azure roles due to enterprise concentration. Chennai and Pune show strong mid-market demand. Tier-2 cities (Jaipur, Coimbatore, Indore) typically pay 20–35% below metros for the same certifications.
Can you actually hit ₹1.5 crore ($180K) in India? Yes — but only in very specific conditions: senior principal architect roles at Amazon, Microsoft India, Google, Goldman Sachs, or JP Morgan Chase, with 10+ years of experience and typically AWS/Azure + Kubernetes + security certs stacked. PayScale data shows JP Morgan Chase paying ₹28.8 LPA average for AWS Solutions Architect holders (PayScale, India, 2025) — still short of ₹1.5 crore. The $180K figure is a US market benchmark.
In the US: AWS Solutions Architect: $120k–$150k average; senior principals hit $170k–$200k+ (multiple sources, 2025). Azure Solutions Architect Expert: $110k–$145k average (Whizlabs/Glassdoor aggregation, 2025).
💡 Pro Tip: The certification alone doesn’t push you to ₹30 LPA. Stacking AWS Solutions Architect with hands-on Terraform, Kubernetes, or security skills (AWS Security Specialty / AZ-500) is what gets you into ₹25–40 LPA territory. The cert opens the door; skills negotiate the salary.
Are AWS and Azure Certifications Recognized by Indian Employers?
Both AWS and Azure certifications are widely recognized by Indian IT employers — but they carry different weight in different company types. AWS certifications are preferred at tech startups, product companies, and cloud-native firms. Azure certifications are valued at TCS, Infosys, Wipro, HCL, Capgemini, and enterprise clients of Microsoft.
Companies in India known to specifically look for or prefer these certifications based on job posting patterns include:
- AWS: Infosys (as a cloud transformation partner), Accenture (AWS practice), Amazon India, Hotstar/Disney+, Zerodha, Dream11, Swiggy
- Azure: TCS, Wipro, HCL Technologies, Atos, IBM India, Microsoft India, large banking and BFSI clients
A note of honesty: the AZ-900 and Cloud Practitioner certs are widely recognized but carry limited negotiation power on their own. Recruiters know they represent 1–2 months of preparation. Associate-level certs carry meaningfully more credibility.
✅ Action Step: Step 1: Search for “AWS Solutions Architect” or “Azure Administrator” on LinkedIn Jobs India and Naukri.com right now. Step 2: Note which certifications appear in the “preferred qualifications” section in 5–10 job listings for your target role. This tells you what employers in your city actually value. Takes: 15 minutes.
How Long Does It Take to Complete an AWS or Azure Certification?
For someone working full-time, a realistic timeline is 6–10 weeks for foundational certs (Cloud Practitioner, AZ-900) and 3–5 months for associate-level certs (SAA-C03, AZ-104). Official prep time estimates from AWS and Microsoft learning paths suggest 30–60 hours of guided study per foundational cert and 60–100 hours for associate-level certs.
For working professionals studying 1–2 hours per day:
- Cloud Practitioner / AZ-900: 6–8 weeks
- SAA-C03 / AZ-104: 3–4 months
- AZ-305 / AWS DevOps Professional: 4–6 months (requires prior associate cert + real-world experience)
The honest caveat: most professionals underestimate the Azure AZ-104 exam. Several online communities note it covers networking, storage, identity, and compute at granular depth — broader than SAA-C03, which stays more conceptual.
Who Should NOT Get an AWS or Azure Certification Right Now?
This section is the one most articles skip. You should probably wait on a cloud certification if any of these apply:
You have no IT background at all. Jumping straight to SAA-C03 or AZ-104 without foundational networking knowledge (what is a VPN, subnet, DNS?) means you’ll memorize answers without understanding them. Spend 2–3 months on a free networking or Linux fundamentals course first.
You’re looking for a guaranteed job in 30 days. Cloud certifications open doors; they don’t guarantee immediate placement. The average job search for a fresh cloud-certified candidate in India takes 2–5 months, depending on the city and role.
You’re in a non-technical role and only want an AZ-900 or Cloud Practitioner. These are valuable for communication and understanding, but they won’t qualify you for a cloud engineer role. If your goal is a technical job switch, plan for an associate-level cert at minimum.
Your current employer has no cloud footprint. If you’re in a shop still running on-premise and your manager has no cloud strategy, a cert alone won’t create a promotion path. Consider changing employers before or alongside the certification.
Alternatives worth considering:
- Free Microsoft Learn paths (learn.microsoft.com) — cover the same content as AZ-900 at zero cost
- AWS Skill Builder free tier (skillbuilder.aws) — official free training before you commit to exam fees
- YouTube channels like A Cloud Guru (free content), TechWorld with Nana (DevOps + cloud context)
Government Schemes That Fund Cloud Certification Training in India
PMKVY 4.0 (Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana) includes cloud computing as a priority sector. The scheme provides free skill training through NSDC-approved centers, covering training fees entirely. Cloud computing is explicitly listed alongside AI, robotics, drones, and EVs as a future-focused domain under PMKVY 4.0.
Key facts:
- Scheme operator: Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) via NSDC
- Coverage: Training fees are fully government-funded
- Who qualifies: Indian youth, including school/college dropouts and those seeking upskilling
- Official registration: skillindiadigital.gov.in
- Helpline: 1800-123-9626
Important note: PMKVY 4.0 covers training costs through approved centers but generally does not cover the AWS or Microsoft official exam fees directly. You would still need to pay the exam fee separately (₹9,800 for Cloud Practitioner or ₹4,800–₹13,600 for Azure exams). Some NSDC-linked programs may include exam vouchers — verify with the specific training center before enrolling.
Also worth checking: Several state governments run their own IT/cloud skilling initiatives — Karnataka’s Kaushalya Karnataka and Telangana Academy for Skill and Knowledge (TASK) have partnered with cloud providers for subsidized training. Check your state skill development mission’s website for current programs.
💡 Pro Tip: Microsoft offers free Azure certifications through Microsoft Virtual Training Days — free instructor-led online sessions where attendees typically receive a voucher for the corresponding fundamentals exam (AZ-900, AI-900, DP-900) at zero cost. Check microsoft.com/en-in/trainingdays for scheduled events.
FAQ
Q: Does AWS or Azure pay more for the same job title in India? AWS-certified professionals tend to earn 5–10% more than Azure equivalents in equivalent roles, primarily because AWS holds a larger market share and higher demand in cloud-native companies (Credosystemz / Jeevi Academy analysis, 2025). However, in Microsoft-heavy enterprise environments, Azure specialists can match or exceed AWS salaries. Exact figures vary by employer and location.
Q: Can I get both AWS and Azure certified? Yes, and multi-cloud professionals do command a premium. But doing both simultaneously is counterproductive — you’ll confuse service naming conventions and concepts. Finish one at associate level, get 6–12 months of job experience, then pursue the second. Many employers will fund your second cloud certification.
Q: Is the AWS Cloud Practitioner worth it, or should I skip straight to SAA-C03? If you have zero cloud experience, Cloud Practitioner is worth the 6–8 weeks — it gives you the vocabulary and context that makes SAA-C03 preparation significantly faster. If you already have 1+ year of cloud exposure, skip it and go directly to SAA-C03. AWS itself positions Cloud Practitioner as optional preparation, not a required step.
Q: Are these certifications valid internationally? Yes. Both AWS and Azure certifications are globally recognized. AWS certifications are especially valued in the US, UK, Singapore, and Australia. Azure certifications carry strong weight in Europe and the Middle East due to enterprise Microsoft adoption. No geographic restrictions on validity.
Q: How do I prepare for the AWS SAA-C03 or AZ-104 on a tight budget? For SAA-C03: Use AWS Skill Builder free tier + Stephane Maarek’s Udemy course (frequently on sale at ₹499). For AZ-104: Use Microsoft Learn’s official free learning path (covers 100% of exam content) + John Savill’s free YouTube series. Together, this costs under ₹1,000 — versus ₹10,000–₹25,000 for bootcamps.
Conclusion: Which Certification Should You Choose?
Three factors matter most in this decision: your current IT background, the type of employer you’re targeting, and your timeline.
AWS wins on: Raw salary numbers (5–10% premium), startup and tech company demand, and volume of open roles globally. It’s the better choice if you’re in or targeting cloud-native companies, SaaS startups, or roles that emphasize architecture and DevOps.
Azure wins on: Enterprise penetration (95% of Fortune 500 companies use Azure, per Microsoft), suitability for Windows/Active Directory professionals, and significantly lower exam fees in India (₹3,696–₹13,600 vs. ₹9,800–₹24,000 for AWS).
The $180K question: At senior architect or principal engineer level in the US, both platforms can realistically deliver $170k–$200k+ with 8–12 years of experience. In India, ₹30–50 LPA is achievable at top-tier MNCs for senior certified architects — but it requires stacking certifications with hands-on project experience, not the cert alone.
Simple decision guide:
- If you’re a Windows admin or sysadmin → Start with AZ-104
- If you’re a developer targeting product companies or startups → Start with SAA-C03
- If you’re completely new and want the lowest-cost entry → AZ-900 (free via Microsoft Virtual Training Days)
- If you want the highest salary ceiling in India within 3–5 years → AWS Solutions Architect Associate, then DevOps Engineer Professional
Your next step: Go to your city’s top 10 “cloud engineer” job listings on Naukri or LinkedIn today, note which certification appears most often, and register for that exam’s free official learning path before you spend a rupee on third-party training.
This article was researched using live web data from official certification providers, government portals, and verified salary platforms. All statistics are cited with sources. If you find outdated information, please comment below or contact us.
Sources
- Glassdoor India — AWS Solution Architect Salary, India (213 responses, November 2025): glassdoor.co.in
- AmbitionBox — AWS Cloud Engineer Salary; AWS DevOps Engineer Salary (July 2025): ambitionbox.com
- Glassdoor India — Azure Administrator Salary, India (AmbitionBox referenced by Scholarhat, 2025): scholarhat.com/tutorial/azure/azure-administrator-salary
- Glassdoor India — Azure Solutions Architect Salary, India (₹18 LPA avg; Whizlabs, 2023 — verify currency): whizlabs.com/blog/azure-certifications-salary
- PayScale India — AWS Certified Solutions Architect Associate salary by employer: payscale.com
- Coursera / AmbitionBox — AWS DevOps Engineer Salary India ₹7.5–10 LPA (July 2025): coursera.org/in/articles/aws-devops-engineer-salary
- AWS Official — Certification exam pricing (Cloud Practitioner $100 / ₹9,800 incl. taxes): aws.amazon.com/certification
- Microsoft Learn Q&A — AZ-900 India price ₹3,691; AZ-104 ₹4,865 (official portal confirmation): learn.microsoft.com
- PassITExams / Microsoft — Azure certification cost structure, renewal policy (December 2025): passitexams.com/articles/microsoft-azure-certification-cost
- Credosystemz — AWS vs Azure market share and salary comparison (May 2025): credosystemz.com/blog
- Jeevi Academy — AWS vs Azure which pays more 2026 (February 2026): jeeviacademy.com
- Whizlabs — Best cloud certifications for 6-figure salary 2025 (May 2025): whizlabs.com/blog/best-cloud-certifications-salary-2025
- National Skills Network — PMKVY 4.0 explained, cloud computing as priority sector (April 2025): nationalskillsnetwork.in
- Skill India Digital Hub — PMKVY registration portal: skillindiadigital.gov.in
